Gun Digest's Defensive Handgun Drills & Techniques Collection eShort. David Fessenden

that require hours and hours of dry practice just to learn the nuances and intricacies of pressure and hand position.

      Finally, if a student has mastered the AMW grip and wishes to experiment with the IPSC grip system, he will find it much easier to understand and learn. He has built the perfect platform from which to master the complexities of the IPSC.

       To perform the AMW grip, place your firing-side hand high on the backstrap of the weapon with the web of your palm tight up against its tang. Now wrap the fingers of the firing-side hand firmly around the frontstrap of the grip frame.

       In the case of shooting a Model 1911A-1, the firing-side thumb rests on top of the thumb safety while firing the weapon or doing any gun handling exercises. This is a requirement that must be observed faithfully to effectively operate this weapon. No pressure is exerted against the slide by the thumb. The support-side fingers are placed over the firing-side fingers, fingers on fingers, and wrapped around the grip frame. The support-side thumb is stacked next to the firing-side thumb high along side. No pressure is applied by the support-side thumb. Both thumbs are relaxed at this point. This grip setup is sometimes called Thumbs High, Thumb on Thumb or Thumbs Stacked.

       Performing the Aggressive Modified Weaver (AMW) Grip

      For the purposes of this discussion, the explanation will be oriented to the right-handed shooter.

      I teach my version of the modified Weaver grip and call it the Aggressive Modified Weaver (AMW). It is a single axis grip system, as opposed to most other grips that use some version of a dual axis system.

      Your grip is the vise that holds the weapon steady for rapid, accurate shots without the need to constantly re-grip after every shot is fired. The AMW also is a superior grip when comes to recoil control and management.